

Awareness
Irish Amputee Football Association 5km Fun Run/Walk this Sunday in UL
Irish Amputee Football Association 5km Fun Run/Walk this Sunday – The outfield players play the game on crutches and goalies use are restricted to using one arm in this fast, skilful and exciting game. The Team will travel to Turkey to represent Ireland in the Euros in October.
Irish Amputee Football Association 5km Fun Run/Walk this Sunday in UL
By I Love Limerick Correspondent Jordan Mac Cormaic
The Irish Amputee Football Association will be hosting a 5km Fun Run/Walk in UL this Sunday, August 13 to raise awareness for the sport.
The Irish Amputee Football Association (IAFA) was set up in April 2011, with the help and support of Oisin Jordan (FAI National Football For All National Coordinator).
The aims of the Irish Amputee Football Association are to develop a National Irish Amputee Football league, to promote and develop the sport of Amputee Football in Ireland and to help towards the further development of persons interested in Amputee Football across Ireland.
Amputee Football was first played competitively in America in the 1980s. America, Great Britain, Russia, Brazil and Uzbekistan were among the first nations to adopt the sport and compete internationally.
Today the sport is played by 31 nations from across the World, 20 of whom competed at the most recent Amputee Football World Cup in Culiacan, Mexico, in 2014.
There are two ‘Amp it Up 5km Fun Run/Walks’ to raise awareness for the Irish Amputee Football Association. The first is this Sunday, August 13 in UL and the second is next Sunday, August 20 in Carlow.
Not yet a Paralympic sport, Amputee Football was considered for inclusion in the games at the most recent Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi Russia in 2014.
The world game is governed by the World Amputee Football Federation (WAFF) and the Amputee Football World Cup is held every two years. Past winners of the competition include Brazil, Uzbekistan and reigning Champions Russia.
The teams provide a wonderful support for amputees and their families in a competitive sporting environment.
The outfield players play the game on crutches and goalies use are restricted to using one arm in this fast, skilful and exciting game. The Team will travel to Turkey to represent Ireland in the Euros in October.
Louise Costello, Physical Therapist for the team said: “These 5km run/walks are firstly to help get the word out to other amputees so they can join the support network that naturally comes with being a player and for the junior players a more extended family support network.”
“The 5km run/walks are also to show people how exciting the sport is so people will start to watch it and applaud the team for the hours of training they put in along with missing out on family time and sacrificing work holidays for the sport.”
She added: “I hope that the runs will also provide some funds for the team who need everything from proper reinforced crutches to flexi foots to training gear and money for the use of pitches to train on.”
She concluded: “The team is incredible, the game is fast and exciting and it’s going to get better and better”.
There are two ‘Amp it Up 5km Fun Run/Walks’ to raise awareness for the Irish Amputee Football Association. The first is this Sunday, August 13 in UL and the second is next Sunday, August 20 in Carlow.
To visit the official website for the Irish Amputee Football Association click here
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